Acne is complex, personal, and deserves expert care. Skin should be lived in, not covered up, stressed over, or worked around. At No. 23 Skin, we’re acne experts.
We know how relentless it can feel, and how life-changing the right treatment can be – you can read our founder’s story here.
If you’re researching laser treatments for acne, you’ve probably come across both AviClear and BBL. Both are laser treatments that are offered at No. 23 Skin, and both can help with breakouts. But they work in very different ways and are suited to different skin concerns.
So which one is right for you? Let’s break it down.
AviClear is a laser designed specifically to treat acne at its source by reducing oil production in your sebaceous glands. It’s ideal if you’re dealing with persistent breakouts and want a long-term solution that doesn’t involve prescription medication.
BBL (Broadband Light) is a light therapy treatment that addresses multiple skin concerns, including acne-related inflammation, redness, pigmentation, and overall skin tone. It’s best if your acne is accompanied by redness, post-inflammatory marks, or if you’re dealing with rosacea or sun damage too.
Cost: £995 per session
Timeline: 3 sessions, each 4 weeks apart, including an initial consultation, and ongoing care for 12 months, because we want to make sure you reach your skin goals, and stay there.
AviClear is the first and only FDA-cleared laser specifically designed to treat mild to severe acne. It targets the root cause of breakouts: sebaceous oil glands.
AviClear uses a 1726nm wavelength laser that safely and selectively targets the sebaceous glands. By delivering controlled energy to these glands, it reduces their size and activity, which means less oil production and fewer breakouts over time.
Think of it as retraining your skin. Rather than masking symptoms with topical treatments or medication, AviClear addresses the underlying issue to help to prevent future breakouts from forming in the first place.
The science is solid. In clinical studies, 80% of patients saw at least half of their acne resolve three months after treatment. By six months, that figure rose to 87%, and by twelve months, 92% had significantly clearer skin. The results are comparable to strong oral medications, but without the side effects.
AviClear is perfect if you:
Book your AviClear appointment
Cost: £450 per session, or 3 for £995
Timeline: A complimentary consultation and suitability assessment, with 3 sessions (two a month apart, with the option of a third if needed), thoughtful aftercare and follow-up support.
BBL (Broadband Light) is advanced light therapy that tackles a range of skin concerns, including acne-related issues like redness, inflammation, and post-inflammatory pigmentation. While technically not a laser, BBL uses targeted pulses of light energy to stimulate collagen, reduce redness, tackle acne, sun damage, rosacea, pigmentation, and fine lines, all with minimal downtime and visible results from the first session.
BBL delivers quick bursts of photothermal energy to the skin. This energy is absorbed by pigment (like sunspots and post-acne marks) and blood vessels (like redness and broken capillaries), breaking them down so your body can naturally clear them away.
At the same time, BBL stimulates collagen production, which helps to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Clinical research shows that BBL doesn’t just improve what you see on the surface—it can help skin behave more like younger, healthier skin at a cellular level. Treatments are well-tolerated, highly consistent, and deliver visible results with minimal downtime.
BBL is particularly effective for people whose acne has left behind redness or pigmentation, or for those dealing with both acne and rosacea.
BBL is ideal if you:
Book your BBL Laser appointment
If the blog post is not too long once uploaded onto the website, then this comparative info below could be put into a widget.
| Feature | AviClear | BBL |
| Primary target | Sebaceous glands (oil production) | Redness, pigmentation, inflammation |
| Best for | Active, persistent acne | Post-acne marks, redness, rosacea |
| How it works | Reduces oil production at the source | Targets pigment and blood vessels |
| Treatment course | 3 sessions, 4 weeks apart | Usually 3 sessions, flexible timing |
| Session length | 30 minutes | 20–30 minutes |
| Downtime | Minimal | Minimal (slight redness, possible peeling) |
| Results timeline | 2–6 months | Days to weeks |
| Suitable for all skin tones? | Yes | Fair to medium tones |
| Price | From £995/session | £450/session (or 3 for £995) |
Meet Isabel, one of our team members. She has combination skin, rosacea, and persistent acne. This is her progress after two AviClear sessions:
BBL has delivered transformative results for our patients dealing with redness, pigmentation, and uneven tone:
For AviClear: Book a dermatology consultation on 0203 9411815. AviClear is always offered as part of a comprehensive acne treatment plan with our consultant dermatologists.
For BBL: Book a free laser consultation online via this link. In many cases, we can do treatment on the same day if appropriate and if you’re ready.
Not sure which to choose? Give us a call us on 0203 9411815, we’re humans and love to chat about skin – we’re happy to talk you through what’s the best option for you.
Warmest regards
Helen
CoFounder
No. 23 Skin
hc@23skin.co.uk
NB: details included in this post are for information purposes only. Please seek medical advice from us, or your GP if you have specific skin concerns. Pricing correct as at May 2026, please call us to check current fees in case of any changes.
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